New Zealand's next High Commissioner to Solomon Islands named

New Zealand's next High Commissioner to Solomon Islands will be Deborah Panckhurst who will take up the position in August.

The New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters made the announcement saying the Solomon has experienced troubled times in recently, and a key role for Ms Panckhurst will be to work with the Government towards achieving good governance and stability.

Ms Panckhurst is currently director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kaupapa Maori division.

She has previously been posted to Malaysia and Russia, and is a former manager of New Zealand's aid programme in Papua New Guinea.